Chapter 4 - Careful Consideration

It was a windy day that Pocahontas told her new friend and companion that she wanted to take him somewhere. She packed lightly with a couple of ears of corn, a clay cup for drinking water from the river, and the compass that Captain John Smith had left with her as a gift. Thomas had come with his bag packed to stay the night in the village with a quilt, a silver cup, and some tea cookies from England. They had prearranged plans to go on an outing in the wilderness. Pocahontas hugged Meeko and told him to stay in the log-house for the day along with Flit.

The Indian maiden climbed into the front of the canoe eagerly while Thomas pushed the small vessel off the shore and leaped in behind her. The current carried them downriver as they both paddled. Looking ahead at the backside of her long black hair, he fancied her to look as lovely as an angel on a ship's bow. He kept his words to himself though, saving his breath for paddling. It wasn't long before they made it to the fork in the river and took the smaller stream. Pocahontas knew the way by heart but Thomas carefully memorized the route to find their way back.

Soon they came to Grandmother Willow's shaded glen where long willow leaves trailed into the water of a fountain spring. Thomas leaped into the shallow water and pushed the canoe ashore. Pocahontas leaped out onto the base of the willow tree and sat demurely on her knees, Thomas joining her as he sat down and leaned back on his hands, legs stretched out as he relaxed. He handed Pocahontas his silver cup full of spring water while she gave him her clay cup in return. It was so over-brimming with water he nearly splashed it all over himself as he looked at her. He was thirsty though. Water had never tasted so good.

"You gave me this," he said, feeling the multi-hued braided leather bracelet with his fingers. "I have a gift for you in return."

Pocahontas looked at him confusedly as he reached into his pocket of his rolled-up pants and pulled out a different bracelet, the likes of which she had never seen. He hung it between his two hands. It was a chain with charms hanging from it. "It's silver, like gold but different. It's from London! See?"

The girl's eyes went wide as she had never received a gift like this before.

"My mother gave it to me," he explained, "back in England, before I left home. She said I should give it to whichever girl I chose as my fianceé, if I find one. After careful consideration, I decided to come to America and bring it with me. And, I thought you might like it," he added quickly under his breath. "Look here! It's London." He held it before her eyes and she peered at it closely. He pointed at the dangling charms one by one. "Here's London Bridge. And here, Big Ben, the old clocktower."

She looked at the tiny things that resembled the village he was from.

"It's for you," he said, holding it out in one hand.

"I've never seen anything like that before," she said. "Are you sure I can keep it?"

"Yes." He latched it around her copper wrist.

Pocahontas thought back over his words carefully. "Your fianceé?" she asked questioningly.

"It means betrothed. I was wondering, if you would consider marrying me?"

Pocahontas smiled with happiness, her brown eyes glowing. "Well, after some careful consideration," she teased him, repeating his words, ". . . I agree to this."

"You do?" Thomas asked excitedly. He clasped her umber-colored hand in his pale one, with a tight grasp.

"Yes, I agree."

"We're both agreed then. Come on, let's head back to the village."

Pocahontas glanced sideways down at their two reflections in the spring water, quite close to each other. Their reflection in the black water looked as pure as their two spirits. She would always remember this moment, like their reflection in the water, she thought to herself.

She was startled from her thoughts by a familiar voice behind her. "Oh, how exciting!" She turned to see Grandmother Willow's face appearing in the bark of the tree, and the surprised look on Thomas' face. "What is this?" the tree continued talking. "Has my Pocahontas fallen in love at last?"

"What's going on?" Thomas gasped, falling back on his elbows. "I've never seen magic before."

"This is Grandmother Willow. She always knows the answer to everything," Pocahontas explained to the boy. She turned and directed her words to the tree. "Yes, Grandmother Willow, I've said yes to him."

"Aw! Young love!" said the tree. "I feel a strange wind in the air. You were meant to meet. Pocahontas has finally made her choice." A long willow branch blew in the breeze and seemed to touch Thomas over the heart. "His heart beats like a drum with bravery and his spirit is free as the wind. He has a wild and young heart like your own, Pocahontas. There will be many adventures in your futures together."

A long willow leaf dipped in the water beside them. At the tree's foretelling words Pocahontas turned with a smile to her new fiancé and grasped his hand again. But the boy was distracted, staring at his own reflection in the black river water, face haloed by red hair with searching eyes, and then at her reflection next to his, long black hair dipping into the water, their eyes seeming to meet. It looked just like a mirror to him, or a portrait painting of two young lovers.

. . .

The couple returned to the village that evening, keeping their engagement a secret. Thomas spent that night sleeping on his quilt a distance away from the dying fire. When Pocahontas returned to her father's log-house, Chief Powhatan met her with a hug. "Wonderful news, Pocahontas, for your friend Nakoma. Kocoum has asked my permission to take her hand in marriage. I must agree to it as the chief of the village. I have agreed. It's a good match for them. Do you agree?" he asked her opinion hesitantly.

"Yes, Father. I can tell Nakoma and Kocoum like each other, very much." She hesitated here, not telling of her own betrothal to Thomas but keeping it a secret in her heart. "They spend all their time together lately."

"Leaving you out?" the chief asked with a sympathetic smile. "You seem to have made a new friend though."

"Yes . . ."

"We will celebrate Nakoma and Kocoum's wedding as soon as the preparations have been made, food to be gathered and gifts to be made, and you will attend."

"I'm so happy for them," Pocahontas exclaimed. "I will help Nakoma sew her dress."

"And you may invite your new friend to attend the wedding as well," her father said with a grin. "He is no longer a stranger to this village."

"I'm sure Thomas would love to come. I will tell him."

"And, Pocahontas?" he asked, as she walked away from him excitedly. She glanced back over her shoulder at him. "I want you to be on your best behavior. No slipping off into the woods for a while. There is much you can help with here in the village for a few days." He raised one eyebrow and he gave a small smile. "My little mischievous one."